Amphiphysin and Breast Cancer
Abstract
We have recently identified a new human syndrome characterized by breast cancer, autoimmunity directed against the neuronal protein in amphiphysin, and Stiff-Man syndrome (SMS). SMS is a rare disease of the central nervous system characterized by progressive rigidity of the body musculature. This condition appears to represent a novel entity within the emerging family of neurological autoimmune paraneoplastic syndromes, conditions in which ectopic expression of a neuronal protein in cancer cells lead to autoimmunity and eventually to neurological disease. We are characterizing the role of amphiphysin and amphiphysin-related proteins in SMS and breast cancer patients. We expect that these studies will provide new information on autoirnrnune mechanisms in breast cancer, may help to develop new tools for the early diagnosis of this condition an may suggest new avenues for immunotherapy. In the last year, we have focused on three major areas: (1) we screened 54 patients and identified 2 new patients with autoimmunity to amphiphysin and cancer. In one of these patients screening for autoimmunity served as a diagnostic procedure for cancer. (2) we have cloned and characterized a splice variant of amphiphysin 1, piO8, from a human breast cancer cell line. (3) We are studying the interaction of amphiphysin with p35, an activator of the neuronal kinase cdk5.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA363483
Entities
People
- Pietro V. Decamilli
Organizations
- Yale University